Hulk Hogan has been awarded $115 million (£79million) in
damages after a jury found that Gawker had violated his privacy by publishing a
s3x tape of him.
damages after a jury found that Gawker had violated his privacy by publishing a
s3x tape of him.
The wrestling legend was seeking $100 million damages from
the website after it posted a clip of him having s3x with Heather Clem – the
now ex-wife of his former friend
the website after it posted a clip of him having s3x with Heather Clem – the
now ex-wife of his former friend
Lawyers for the website argued that the concept of freedom
of the press was more important to uphold, even if the jury found the action
distasteful, while his lawyers argued the video was not newsworthy and violated
his privacy.
of the press was more important to uphold, even if the jury found the action
distasteful, while his lawyers argued the video was not newsworthy and violated
his privacy.
The wrestler’s lawyers also said the website didn’t contact
him or Clem before they published the story.
him or Clem before they published the story.
Hogan – real name Terry Bollea – had to take to the stand
and give evidence at a court in St. Petersburg, Florida, this week, divulge
private details about his s3x life and the case has put strain on his relationship
with his wife.
and give evidence at a court in St. Petersburg, Florida, this week, divulge
private details about his s3x life and the case has put strain on his relationship
with his wife.
Last year, his contract with WWE (World Wrestling
Entertainment) was terminated after a transcript from the s3x tape recording –
which was secretly made in 2007 when the wrestler was suffering from depression
in the wake of his wife Linda Hogan filing for divorce was leaked revealing him
using the N-word during a conversation about his daughter Brooke Hogan’s then- boyfriend.
Entertainment) was terminated after a transcript from the s3x tape recording –
which was secretly made in 2007 when the wrestler was suffering from depression
in the wake of his wife Linda Hogan filing for divorce was leaked revealing him
using the N-word during a conversation about his daughter Brooke Hogan’s then- boyfriend.
WWE, the company which he helped to turn into a global
entertainment brand, cut all ties with him, even removing mentions of him from
their official website.
entertainment brand, cut all ties with him, even removing mentions of him from
their official website.
Hogan previously said he hasn’t felt like himself since his
s3x tape was posted online.
s3x tape was posted online.
He said: “I just haven’t felt like myself… this is
still tearing me up. I haven’t been able to get back up to who I was before
[the tape]… I’m not the same person I was since all this craziness
happened.”
still tearing me up. I haven’t been able to get back up to who I was before
[the tape]… I’m not the same person I was since all this craziness
happened.”
The 62-year-old also recently hit back at rumours he had
leaked the tape himself, insisting he was offered money by Vivid Entertainment,
a pornographic film production company, for the video but refused.
leaked the tape himself, insisting he was offered money by Vivid Entertainment,
a pornographic film production company, for the video but refused.
He added: “It wasn’t about Hulk Hogan making a s3x
tape. That’s not what happened. It’s never been about that … We had calls
from Vivid Entertainment … and they said, ‘There’s an open checkbook, we’ll
pay you anything you want … he disclosed.
tape. That’s not what happened. It’s never been about that … We had calls
from Vivid Entertainment … and they said, ‘There’s an open checkbook, we’ll
pay you anything you want … he disclosed.
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